Steam-turbine.



PATENTEQD SEPT. 27, 1904.,

s. N. SMITH. STEAM TURBINE.

APPLICATION FILED EAR. 30, 1903.

2 SHEBTBSHEET 1.

NO MODEL.

PATENTED- SEPT. 27, 1904.

S. N. SMITH. STEAM TURBINE. APPLIOATION FILED MAR. so, 1903.

2 sums-sum 2..

N0 MODEL.

mum

I [wan/$1 SorrzmzfsNJnuLi/v Q w b m w M 3 w & M Q 10 u m b R .8 b S .WN\ m N N m Q Q a .Q 5

b V v m .I bl. J mm QW v 3 w A h x x MN x U \Q J a w m 5 UNITED STATESPatented September 27', 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

STEAM-TURBINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 771,103, datedSeptember 27, 1904.

Application filed March so, 1903.

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SoMMERs N. SMITH, a citizen of the United States,residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certainImprovements in Steam-Turbines, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to steam turbines; and it consists of certainimprovements in that class of steam-engines whereby I am enabled toprovide an economical and simple mechanical construction, effect aneconomy in the amount of steam used, and at the same time produce acompact and eflicient motor.

My invention is fully shown in the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1 is a cross-sectional view of my improved turbine, taken on theline a a, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same,taken on the line b h, Fig. 1. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are enlarged sectionalviews of details of the structure, and Fig. 6 is an enlarged viewillustrating a further detail of my invention.

In my improved form of turbine I employ nozzles to direct the steamagainst blades disposed at the periphery of a wheel or othermovablemember. I also arrange the nozzles in my improved form of turbineso that they discharge within a casing, thereby preventing in a greatmeasure loss of steam by condensation.

In the accompanying drawings, 1 represents the shaft to be driven, whichis mounted in,

suitable bearings 2, disposed beyond the casing. This shaft carries asleeve 3, upon which is mounted a series of hubs 1, having arms 5 andannular rims 6, the whole comprising a spider, and to these rims 6 aresecured the annular plates 7, which carry the annular ranges of bucketsor blades 8. This structure is mounted within a suitable chambercomprising the annular wall or casing 10 and the end walls or bonnets l1and 12. Each end wall or bonnet has an enlarged hub 13, which provides abearing for the shaft 1, such hub having grooves 1 1 formed in the innersurface next to the shaft and having means for supplying water or otherfluid to act asa seal to prevent leakage of steam from the casing if themachine is running non-con- Serial Nol50,16l. (N0 model.

densing and to prevent leakage of air into the casing if the machine isrunning as a condenser. In the present instance enlarged chambers 15 areprovided having inlet-pipes 16. The exhaust-opening 17 is formed in theend wall 12. Beyond the seals for the shaft pedestals 18 are arrangedfitted with the bearings 2, having multiple floating sleeves l9,perforated for oil or other lubricant. The annular plates 7 are forced,shrunk, or slid onto the rims 6, and they are secured in place by keys20, set at intervals around the rims, as shown in Fig. 1. The end rangesof buckets are secured against lateral movement, and through them all ofthe ranges of buckets are held in place by the followers or annularkeepers 21, carried by the rims 6 and secured thereto by means of thebolts 22.

The buckets or blades 8 are secured to the rims 6 in the manner shown inthe enlarged views Figs. 3 and 4.. The annular plates 7 are grooved at23, as shown, which grooves are cut entirely through at the point 24:,and the curved plate forming the blade or bucket 8 is arranged to slipinto this groove and is provided with a projection 8, adapted to fit thecut-out portion 25.

For the purpose of securing together the plates 7, between which theblades 8 are held, certain of these blades will be provided withprojections 26, arranged to enter apertures 27, formed in line'with thegrooves to receive the blades forming the buckets, which projections areafterward riveted over, as clearly shown in Fig. 4:.

The nozzles for supplying the steam are shown at 29 and are secured inany suitable manner to the annular wall or casing 10, the outlets of thesame being arranged equidistantly from each other or spaced as may bedesired. The steamnozzles are provided with flanges 30, whereby they maybe readily secured to the annular wall of the turbine-casing. Thesenozzles extend across the full width of the ranges of buckets or bladesand are what are known as expanding nozzles, having a gradual taper fromthe steaminlet opening 31 to their enlarged end 32, clirectly adjacentto the blades or buckets. These nozzles, of which there are six in thepresent instance, are fed from the steam-conduits 33, which extend fromthe main steam-inlet 3a. The admission of steam may be controlled at asingle point by an ordinary steam-valveas, for instance, the valve 35,mounted in the casing 36, from which the steam-conduits 33 extend-or inthe manner described below.

In lieu of the single valve 35 for controlling the admission of steameach inlet-nozzle may be provided with a valve constructed and arrangedas follows: The inlet-opening 31. of each nozzle is very narrow andopens out from a circular chamber 33, and this inletopening iscontrolled by a valve 37, capable of partial rotary movement within saidchamber. This valve may be fitted with a slot or port 38, by means ofwhich the amount of steam admitted to the expansion-nozzle 29 can beregulated, or it may be arranged to open and close the opening 31.

Simultaneous adjustment of all of the valves controlling the openings 31may be accomplished by means of the slotted ring 39, which acts uponlevers 40, secured to each valve 37, This ring may be operated by handor by a suitable governor, preferably of a type to be directly attachedto the main shaft.

One of the main advantages of my improved turbine is the ease in whichits size may be increased or decreased. The number of ranges of bucketsthat may be employed is only limited by the length of shaft that may beproperly supported in the bearings.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent 1. In a steam-turbine, the combination of a moving memberhaving a series of arms forming spiders, rims connecting said arms,annular rings secured to said rims, and a series of annular ranges ofbuckets or blades spaced apart by and secured to said annular rings.

2. Ina steam-turbine, the combination of a moving member having a seriesof arms forming spiders, rims connecting said arms, annular ringscarried by said rims, a series of ranges of buckets or blades carried bysaid annular rings, the latter having grooves formed directly in theirfaces to secure and ant position said buckets or blades in place, andnozzles arranged to direct steam across the face of said buckets orblades.

3. In a steam-turbine, the combination of a series of spiders forming amoving member, annular rings secured to the peripheral edge of the same,a series of buckets or blades carried by and secured to said annularrings, a casing inclosing said structure, a series of expansion-nozzlesextending across the face of said buckets or blades, and steam-supplypipes communicating with said nozzles.

4:. In a steam-turbine,the combination of the moving member, a series ofannular ranges of buckets or blades carried thereby, said buckets orblades being mounted on the peripheral edge of said moving member, acasing inclosing said structure, expansion-nozzles adapted to directsteam across the entire face of said buckets or blades,steam-supplypipes communicating with said nozzles, rocking valves extending acrossthe nozzles and controlling the discharge from the same, and means foroperating said valves simultaneously.

5. In a steam-turbine, the combination of a moving member, annular ringscarried thereby, said rings being grooved on their inner face and havingthrough-openings in line with said grooves, and buckets or bladesarranged between said rings and seating in the grooves, said bucketshaving projections extending into the through-openings of the rings.

6. In a steam-turbine, the combination of a moving member having aseries of spiders, annular rings carried by said spiders, said ringsbeing grooved on their inner face and having through-openings in linewith said grooves, and buckets or blades arranged between said rings andseating in the grooves, said buckets having projections extending intothe through-openings of the rings.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

SOMMERS N. SMITH.

Witnesses:

MURRAY 0. BOYER, J os. H. KLEIN.

